~from (y/n)'s POV~

"It's about your boyfriend."

Instinctively, you shook your head. "Don't want to hear it."

"(Y/n)-"

"Not right now, Levi. Let's just get the supplies back to-"

"Your boyfriend is cheating on you."

You hesitated, stuck between taking another step and not moving from the place you'd been standing. Levi had just said what you'd been trying to deny to yourself...But he has no evidence, you reminded yourself. He hasn't given me any proof...

"When we were first searching the park, they showed up together."

"Coincidence," you stated, but your voice was flat.

"(Y/n), I saw them making out." The words rang in your head, and you didn't bother to protest. Somehow, despite only knowing Levi a few mere hours, you trusted him. "Your boyfriend is a cheating bastard, (y/n)-"

You forced a smile onto your face. "That's all right, Levi. Thanks for letting me know, but there's nothing to be done about it." Truth be told, you'd suspected as much for a while, but you hadn't been brave enough to confront him. At least you knew for sure know. "Now let's get back to base, okay?"

Without another word, you continued walking toward the Ferris wheel, still carrying a box.

Levi hesitated a second as though waiting for you to cry, but you weren't going to. The sad honesty of the situation was that you weren't enough to keep Erwin satisfied. That was probably your fault. It was good enough that he'd even bothered dating you, right? Even if it was out of pity, you'd made some good memories that you'd treasure. Even if it was all fake...even if none of it meant anything to him...you would still remember being happy.

And so you soldiered on, a slight smile on your face, and for all the life of him, Levi couldn't figure out why.

***

Back at the Ferris wheel, you set down the box of supplies. It looked like everyone was back except for Erwin's group. You tried not to think about that.

"What'd you find?" Sasha asked, coming over and smiling at you. After a second, you smiled back, deciding that you liked this girl. "Food? PLEASE tell me it's food!" Yep, she was a keeper.

"Well, this is mainly candy..."

"I'LL TAKE IT."

Just as she reached for a Tootsie Roll, Levi smacked her hand, glaring. "We're going to need to ration everything, brat. No stealing from the supply."

"But my stomach is literally caving in!"

"Then starve to death. What do I care?"

Harsh. "Um, actually, Sasha? Eren is going to be bringing back some pizza, if you can wait a bit..."

Sasha hugged me, almost to the point of tears. "You're an angel! And Eren's an angel too! And he's the devil!"

You didn't have to think too hard to figure out who she was talking about.

"And you're an imbecile," Levi snapped, but his comments didn't seem to phase Sasha. You decided that you liked her for that quality; however blind her optimism was, it already made you feel better.

Just then, Armin jogged over with a box of what must have been the internal contents of a vending machine. "Look what I have!"

"Where are Annie and Erwin?" Sasha asked, somehow more focused on people than food for once.

Does she know? you wondered. She has to know. She's just too nice to tell me...Now that I think about that, did everyone know but me? You smiled sadly to yourself. I guess I'm just the end of another joke, huh?

Levi caught the look on your face and returned it with a sharp glance, but you shook your head. Let's not bring it up, okay?

"They're bringing back two other boxes we filled, but they had to empty the vending machine, so I came back first. They should be here in a few minutes."

The silence was uncomfortable as everyone clearly imagined what would be happening in those few minutes.

You smiled. "All right, let's get set up for dinner, okay? Eren should be back soon."

Sasha looked over at you quickly, a sad look on her face, but you pretended not to see it, instead going about organizing all the supplies that Armin, Levi, and you had brought back and making a list so you could divide up rations later.

"You're very detail-oriented," Levi observed, helping you.

You shrugged, separating the perishable from the nonperishable items. "My mom runs the food pantry in town, so I volunteer there a lot. I'm used to this kind of thing." I'm not used to being cheated on by my boyfriend, but I can change. I can adapt and come out stronger. That's how humans have survived, isn't it? Something shitty happens, but instead of growing gills or a tail or wings, they become smarter, more cunning, less trusting. I'll get past this, and I'll emerge a better (y/n). It will just take time...and pain...but you'll see. I can be strong.

You arranged the food items into small piles by earliest date so nothing would expire without you noticing it, and Levi frowned. "What's wrong?" you asked, flicking your eyes over to him.

"I like to arrange them alphabetically," he muttered. "By date makes sense, but it's extremely irksome."

"Well, how about this. I'll arrange the perishables by date so we know the expiration deadline for everything, and you can arrange the nonperishables alphabetically since they won't expire. Does that work?"

He was silent for a long moment, thinking to himself. "Actually...Yes."

Somehow, you'd just managed to compromise with the most detail-oriented person you'd ever met, besides yourself.

And at that moment, just when you were feeling comfortable...

"Oh, looks like Annie and Erwin are back," Jean called out.

You put on a smile. I can be strong.